Coaster sled with flexible runners



1956 G. o. FORSETH COASTER SLED WITH FLEXIBLE RUNNERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1953 H 23 4 22 z 1 G o o l h B F m I14 2 ||1|r 2 4 a a 0 a w z H z 9 9 4 Z L B 2 7 2 13 f 3 v a 5 Wm 3 J 7 3 x, A m w 7 2 INVENTOR GEORGE QFORsETH @MQ, know ATTORNEY:

Feb. 28,- 1956 0, FQRSETH 2,736,565

COASTER SLED WITH FLEXIBLE RUNNERS Filed June 22, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 35 4 3o 2 3 6 5 l l j lllllflu/ 9 Z: 6 ,2 2726 2/ 4 0 I j? a INVENTOR. F76. 6 GEORGEOFaRJETH k LZwv-e ATTORNE Y6 United States Patent- COASTER SLED WITH FLEXIBLE RUNNERS George 0. Forseth, Minneapolis, Minn. Application June 12,1953, Serial-No. 363,081

" c a ms (9 280*? This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sleds ofthe general; type disclosed in my Patent Number 2,499,639, granted March 7, 1 950. 7 There are now available numerous coaster sleds having flei ilible runners and means for the runners to guide the sled on its course, when coasting down a hill or incline. While such known sleds have been acceptable by the trade, they have not been entirely satisfactory for various reasons, and an important object of the present invention, herefore, s o p vi a w e e of h e a ty e wherein all of the objectionable features now inherent in such sleds have been completely and entirely eliminated without sacrificing any of the desirable qualities of such sleds, and whereby such sleds may he manufactured in quantity production at a cost whereby they may be sold to h new very no t s A further object of the present invention is to provide a sled comprising an annular metallic, deck supporting frame having its rear end portion mounted upon and firiedly secured to, a suitable bolster having depending end portions to which the rear end portions of the usual runnets of the sled are secured, and the. forward end of the de k supporting frame is mounted upon a front bolster h j'ving. depending ends similarly. secured to the runners, the connections between said supporting frame and the ro s r wan s i ted a mo em n front bolster relativefto'the deck supporting frame, thereby to facilitat laterally flexing the runners to guide the led n i a el- A further object of the invention residesv in the simple and inexpensive construction of the steering linkage of the sled, the partsv of which are so oriented that the runnets, may ea i y e flexe by manua n pu a ion o a conveniently disposed steering bar to guide the sled, and ai steering when released," automatic ll returning to its normal position tov guide the sled in ,a straight course.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel construction of the forward end of the deck supporting frame and the steering linkage attached thereto for flexing the runners to. guide the sled in its travel; in the construction of such a sled embodying a minimum number of parts, and all such parts being so designed that they may readily be assembled to complete the formation of the sled with a minimum of operations, whereby the 'sled may be manufactured at low'cost; in 'the provision of such a sled of rugged and substantial construction, and which is extremely light in weight; and in the novel construction of the steering mechanism which is such that it 'may readily be manipulated by a young child to accurately guide the sled on its" course.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following description taken in connection withth accompanying i gi a.

i n the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out th e var'ious'objects' of'the iii iiti'. bu t is *9 i te ea'i tliifth ii satise is "ice not confined to the exact features shown, as varions changes may be made. within, the scope, of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is. a plan view of-the novel sled herein disclosed, with the parts thereof; in their normal positions;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure. 1;

Figure. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the. line 3-3 of Figure l, on anenlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a plan viewv of the sled with the deck omitted, and showing the. runners flexed to steer the sled to. the left;

Figure 5. is an enlarged cross-sectional'viewon the line 55 of Figure 1, showing the movable connection between the deck supporting frame and the front bolster; and i i v Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional: view on the line 66 of Figure 2, showing only one side of the sl'ed.

An important feature of the novel coaster sled herein disclosed resides in the. unique construction of its supporting frame, whereby a very'rugged and substantial structure is provided, which capable of withstanding severe turningstrains and other rough usage to which such devices are often subjected when in use. i

The supporting structure comprises an annular metallic frame, generally designated by the'nuinerall', having 55rallel side rails The front and rear ends 4 she's; re;- spe ctive ly, of' the frame], are preferably semi-circu r in configuration, as shown'infFigu" s '1 'and lfalthoug may be otherwiseiformed, if 4 red. 4 i

The rear end poriidn: of the deck 'supp orting frame, 2 is P I @96 a S l hal te? 6 wh h. i is PF a y eeded by u a e m u h w ldibql' ie f 6 is g at fi a i s QhPQi g ds w th pend: s b e t 7, eieta v n e d le 8 th bi ler term als Qt wh h re. se r 9. i ii h' fl gs? jof. a P r o ename s iunh r h are a ia rati ns. it he b k s are Pts r shaped as shown in Figure 6, and are fitted between the islsnsine @289 if he a ls er 6 and. welded ther 9 lqr i le e f ti integra js ru ur -f T e r ar 3 P m. it e. runn are Preferably b u w y and qtwardly a ho 12 i 'Fis ii 2, n ave the tetm i als'j welded o newscast ereby t i g h n is at and r o I th i x fie and simultaneously prov de roundd end's wh less k l tq au njur to nd vidua s c nta ti tha A s mila b lster 1 up r the f rwar end Qt th declt supporting'frame, lil is nroyided at i w b a kets .imli1af hjbra kls 1 biende a the ends of the rearv holster 6.' The upper ends of a'clZ- ets 14 are shnilarl'y' welded t the bolster l3 to 'pr n efieet, an in ral Pa t hereof, an the i 1' are secured to the upright flanges 9 of the in s 1:5 in

an i l' 9. th DWQKQFS 7 a indicate i g Suitable cross members 16 and 17, preferably. of flat bar "stock, are provided adjacent to the bolsters 6 and 13, respectively," as shown in' Eigures l and il anid are shown'having their terminals ahutiil gly engaged with meninges of the horizontal flanges of the, "side s 3 df'the d k' 'uiipo t ng ram'e' y weld g; a is well known in thearti Th6 ppe r surfaces of the citoss members 16 and1 7 are substantially flush with the npper surfaces of the horizontal flange of the sir nilar ftame member 2 so that when a deck '18. is positioned ihfircon, e n s nd S de l 'th de k may- 1w 2 sup rt d on said horizontal flange. The cross rails 16 an d 17 are preferably apertured, 'shown in Figuref t, to receive rivets or bolts for Sg -mu ging" deck to the naihe a will b nes l unease a use "B securing the deck 18 to the frame 2, the edges of the deck will also be protected by the upright annular flange 19 of the deck supporting frame, as will be understood by reference to Figures 1, 5, and 6.

Another feature of the invention resides in the connections between the front bolster l3 and the deck supporting frame 2, which are such as to permit limited lateral movement of the bolster with respect to the deck sup porting frame to permit free flexing of the intermediate portions of the runners, when the steering mechanism is operated to guide the sled in its traveling movements.

To thus movably connect the bolster 13 to the deck supporting frame, a pair of plate elements 21 are welded or otherwise permanently secured to the front end portions of the deck supporting frame, and project inwardly from the sides thereof, and overlie the end portions of the bolster, asbest illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The overlying portions of the plates 21-21 have elongated openings or slots 22 therein, disposed longitudinally of the bolster 13.

Suitable studs or rivets 23 have their lower end portions fixed to bolster, preferably by riveting, as indicated at 24 in Figure 5. The studs 23 traverse the elongated openings or slots 22 in the plate elements 21, and are provided with enlarged heads 25 at their upper ends for inseparably securing the deck supporting frame to the bolster 13. The bolster may thus move laterally with respect to the deck supporting frame, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure 4, thereby to permit flexing of the intermediate portions of the runners to facilitate guiding the sled in its forward movement. The runners may be flexed substantially from the rear bolster brackets 7 to the forward ends thereof.

From the front bolster 13, the runners extend forwardly and curve upwardly, as is customary, and have their front terminals 26 horizontally disposed and apertured, whereby a tie member 27 may be interposed between the front terminals of the runners, and pivotally connected thereto by suitable pivot elements 28. The tie member 27 is preferably forwardly curved, as shown in dFigures 1 and 4, to enhance the appearance of the sle Elongated link members 29 have their forward ends pivotally connected to the forward ends of the runners by the pivot pins 28, and their rear ends to the plate elements 21 by pivots 30, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4. The link members 29 cooperate to support and reinforce the forward ends of the runners, as will be understood by reference to Figures 1, 2 and 4.

The steering mechanism for the sled is best illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, and comprises an elongated member 31, having its rear end pivotally connected to the forward end portion 4 of the deck supporting frame 2 by a pivot 32, shown secured to a small bracket 33, which may be welded to the frame 2, as will be understood. The opposite or front end of the member 31 is similarly pivotally connected to the central portion of the tie member 27 by a pivot pin 34. A steering bar 35 is fixedly secured to the intermediate portion of the member 31 by such means as rivets or bolts 36. The steering bar 35 is disposed at right angles to the member 31, and has its end portions extending outwardly beyond the sides of the sled, as shown in F gures 1 and 4, whereby they may be conveniently manipulated to guide the sled on its course. -Apertures 37 may be provided in the ends of the steering bar to facilitate attaching a tow rope or cord thereon.

When the sled is guided by an individual positioned thereon, the steering bar 35 1s manipulated as shown in Flgllf.e that it is bodily swung to the left, when it is des red to turn left; or to the right, when it is desired to turn 1n that direction. Such manipulation of the steer- 8 bar because of its pivotal connections with the front end of the deck supporting frame 2 and th tie, member 27, causes the front bolster 13 t bodily shift or move to the left with respect to the deck supporting frame, because of its movable connections with said frame through the studs 23 and the elongated openings or slots 22. Such relative movement of the front bolster 13 permits the runners to flex throughout their intermediate portions, as indicated in Figure 4, thereby minimizing turning strains in the runners, and at the same time minimizing the effort exerted on the steering bar 35 to guide the sled on its course.

The unique manner in which the deck supporting frame 2 is mounted upon the front and rear bolsters, and the configuration of the frame 2, combine to provide a supporting structure for the deck 18 of the sled which is capable of withstanding considerable rough usage and wear, to which sleds of this general type are often subjected. Also by forming the annular frame 2 with an outer upstanding flange, the edges of the deck are protected from damage, should the sled collide with or engage an obstruction while in motion. All parts of the sled present the utmost in simplicity, and may readily be manufactured in mass production at very low cost. The parts are also so designed that they may readily be assembled to complete the formation of the sled in a minimum length of time, with a resultant reduction in labor and in the cost of producing the sled in large quantities.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a coaster sled of the class described, an an nular deck supporting frame comprising parallel side rails and front and rear semi-circular end portions, said frame being formed from a metallic bar of angle iron? cross section having a lower horizontally disposed flange and an outer upright flange which defines the configuration of the deck supporting frame, a plurality of flat cross members interposed between said side rails and having their terminals abuttingly engaged with the inner edges of said side rails and fixedly welded thereto, an inverted channel-shaped bolster fixedly secured to the rear end portion of the deck supporting frame with its spaced parallel legs directed downwardly, brackets having elongated portions fitting into said channel shaped bolster and permanently welded thereto, said brackets depending from said bolster, runners secured to the lower-most ends of said brackets and extending forwardly thereof in spaced parallel relation, a front bolster of similar cross section at the forward end of the deck supporting frame having similar depending brackets secured to the ends thereof, the bottom ends of said front brackets being similarly secured to said runners, plate elements secured to the forward side portions of said annular deck supporting frame and each having an elongated slot therein, said slots being disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said frame, studs secured to the front bolster and traversing said slots and cooperating therewith to inseparably secure the front end of the deck supporting frame to the front bolster, and permitting limited lateral movement of the frame relative to said front bolster to facilitate laterally flexing the runners to guide the sled in its forward movement, the forward end portions of said runners curving upwardly and having horizontally disposed tenninal portions, a tie bar interposed between and pivotally connected to said terminal portions, elongated links having their forward ends pivotally connected to the ends of said tie bar and having their rear ends pivotally connected to said plate elements, and a steering mechanism operatively connected to said tie bar and the forward end of the deck supporting frame for laterally flexing the runners to guide the sled.

2. A coaster sled according to claim 1, wherein the steering mechanism comprises a longitudinal member having its front end pivoted to the intermediate portion of said tie bar and its rear end to the front end portion of the deck supporting frame, and an operating handle having its intermediate portion fixedly secured to the central portion of said longitudinal member with its end portions extending laterally beyond the sides of the deck supporting frame to provide handles for manipulating said longitudinal member to cause it to laterally flex the runners.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 408,681 Allen Aug. 13, 1889 6 Miller Oct. 15, Hornquist Mar. 17, Himebaugh July 28, Scholtes June 25, Miller Aug. 27, Kidder Apr. 14, Holbrook July 14, Forseth Mar. 7, 

